GTRE requesting MoD to convert IL-76 aircraft into flying test bed for engine trials

Source : IgMp Bureau

Kaveri engine fitted on an IL-76 flying test bed in Russia

The DRDO's Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) has been requesting the Defence Ministry to convert an IL-76 aircraft into a flying test bed for engine trials along with one used Mig-29 for final certification trials of the engine.

The high altitude trials of the 46 kilonewton Kaveri dry engine on a Russia IL-76 flying test bed in Moscow has been delayed by several months which will indirectly delay its experimental flights on the Technological Demonstrator of the DRDO’s Stealth Unmanned Strike Aircraft program.

Safran and DRDO will sign an agreement to jointly develop a 110 kilonewton engine this month and the DRDO has already announced that it will develop a number of upscaled and downscaled variants of the jet engine for other spin-off programs and this Indian flying test bed will play a very big role in engine development as well as future product improvements.